The Russian pianist and music teacher, Anatoly (Tolia) Ivanovich Vedernikov, was born in Harbin in 1920 in the family trade worker. His performing career began in 1930 as a pianist-prodigy. In 1933 he graduated from the Higher School of Music in Harbin (Class VI Dilon). Before 1936 he gave concerts in China and Japan (where he took lessons from pianist L. Sirota). In 1936 he entered the Moscow Conservatory (in the class of Heinrich Neuhaus), from which he graduated in 1947. In 1937, both his parents were repressed: his father was shot, and his mother was sentenced to 8 years imprisonment.

In 1942, Anatoly Vedernikov gave his first solo concert in Moscow. In 1945 took part in the All-Union Competition of performing musicians, but was not admitted to the 3rd round. He became a great friend of Sviatoslav Richter (also a student of Heinrich Neuhaus) when he arrived in Moscow in 1937. In 1940-1959, they often performed together: J.S. Bach's Concerto, Rondo of Frédéric Chopin, Concerto pathétique of Franz Liszt, En blanc et noir of Debussy, the 2nd Suite of Sergei Rachmaninov and Béla Bartók's Sonata.. Creative relationship tied the pianist with Prokofiev, who instructed him to do transcriptions and instrumentation of a number of his works; Vedernikov was the first performer in Russia of his Fourth Concerto for Piano and Orchestra. He was also the first (after the composer) to perform the 1st and 24th Preludes & Fugues for piano, Op. 87 by Dmitri Shostakovich, who valued the interpretation of his works. Vedernikov became a soloist on the Moscow concert scene, but his musical activities took primarily place on the periphery.

From 1958 Anatoly Vedernikov taught at Musical-Pedagogical Gnesin Institute (since 1963 Associate Professor), since 1980 at the Moscow Conservatory (since 1985 Professor). Among his pupils were A.V. Sheludyakov, N.S. Kislenko. His career did not develop outstide the Soviet Unions, but since 1969 he began performing abroad (in the socialist countries); in 1980 he made his debut in Italy and Scotland, then toured in Finland and Germany. In 1983 he was awarded the title of "Honored Artist of the RSFSR '.

The Performing style of Anatoly Vedernikov shows different intellectual rationalism. He preferred product of philosophical plan: J.S. Bach, L.v. Beethoven, César Franck. He was also considered a great performer of Frédéric Chopin, Debussy and music of the 20th Century. He was the first performer in Russia of many works of 20th Century composers: Béla Bartók, Paul Hindemith (Ludus tonalis cycle, etc.), as well as performed world premieres of the 2nd sonata of G.I. Ustvolskaya and sonatas by V.E. Souslin.

Anatoly Vedernikov died in Moscow in 1993. After his death, the Japanese label Denon issued on 26 CD's pianist (as of 2000).